This much is true. You know Christmas is near when the wet season arrives and everything else it brings – including those potholes. Everywhere.
Indeed, it’s that time of the year once more when thousands of Samoans return for the holidays only to be greeted by those gaping potholes as soon as they exit the wonderful Chinese-funded airport at Faleolo.

In a time when the world critically needed leadership by the planet’s biggest carbon emitters, everyone failed to show-up. Vulnerable island states—from the Pacific to the Indian Oceans and to the Caribbean—whose future ironically now lies in the hands of those who couldn’t care less, made emphatic and emotional presentations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC).

How far is a grieving family prepared to go to find closure and justice? If you are anything like the Dalton family, the answer is not only will they go to extreme lengths; they will not take no for an answer. Especially when they believe there is something fishy about the way the case of their loved one has been handled.

Lupesoliai Joseph Parker penned quite an interesting piece this week, ahead of his latest fight against Alexander Flores tonight.
Published under the headline “Now I know who’s got my back,” it was quite telling.

The story titled “Thieves steal $15,000 worth of red palms” published on page 2 of yesterday’s Samoa Observer is dreadful. Not only are the actions of the culprit or culprits downright shocking, the idea that they have robbed a hard-working woman—not once but twice—tells a sad story.

Tuesday 12 December 2018 is a day to remember. It was a day many of us who grew up in Samoa thought we would never see.
A day when two of the biggest pillars in Samoa, the Church and Government, collided in the corridors of justice sending out a shockwave to the rest of the country with the burning question of what has happened to Samoa?

Who wants the rain? Who wants flooding? Or a natural disaster?
No one in Samoa does, especially at this time of the year. It’s a happy time, one where people are generally on a positive buzz for one reason or another.

The writer was invited by UNESCO to speak as one of the panelists during the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights last night. Other speakers included Acting Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Ombudsman Maiava Iulai Toma and UNESCO Director and Representative to the Pacific State, Ms. Nisha. This is what Mata’afa said:

Forget what the climate change skeptics are saying—it is real and already affecting millions of lives on the planet—including the Pacific Islands. In America authorities put the death toll from the devastating fires in California last month at 85.

The death of Jeremiah Malaki Tauili’ili is tragic. Every time a precious life is lost, regardless of the circumstances, it pains very deeply.
Why? We believe that one life lost is one too many. Which is the tragedy of Mr. Tauiliili’s death. At 24 years young, a promising Civil Engineer career at the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure and a child to raise; he had his whole future ahead of him.

So who is telling the truth with regards to funding for the Asau Wharf? That’s the million-tala question today after conflicting stories have emerged from key players in this project.
What should have been a really simple straightforward story has suddenly become a mystery for reasons that are beyond me.

Don’t get us wrong; we are proud and patriotic Samoans, just like all Samoans in this country and all over the world. And after close to 40 years in power, we are grateful for the work that has been done by the Human Rights Protection Party government to develop Samoa to where we are today. There is a lot to celebrate.

On Tuesday afternoon, an email accompanied by an attachment arrived from the Government Press Secretariat. When opened, the imagery was interesting. You couldn’t help but laugh. Really.
You see, it showed an interesting picture of Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi wearing sunnies in his office, with two arms raised while he is pointing to the ceiling.

Call me old school – or whatever name you want – but I think there is something odd about this strong push to include sex education in Samoa’s school system.
We’ve got far more serious problems to deal with in schools. Like getting better results in Mathematics, Science and literacy subjects, which we know have been very poor during the past few years.

Here’s the good news. While it’s not the first time Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi’s administration has assured us, if ever we needed reassurance about how not to be buried in debt and our ability as a nation to pay, the Minister of Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti, is the man of the hour.

Christmas has come early for some Samoan families, who have prayed fervently in recent years for a good Samaritan, to step forward with free water tanks.
Some families have not had access to a consistent source of water for many years, until they got on the list of 21 families, who were chosen to receive a 2000-litre water tank from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (L.D.S) Charities recently.

Lupesoliai Joseph Parker’s third round knockout of American-Mexican heavyweight boxer Alexander Flores last Saturday night in Christchurch, New Zealand got him back into the winner’s circle. Our reporter Soli Wilson talks to members of the public on what they thought of the victory.

Think a minute… A school teacher was complaining about a little boy in her class who was not showing any interest in learning. She said: “David will not do his school work. He’s not even motivated to try!” But that same boy, David, will jump out of bed early in the morning to go fishing or play with his friends. He just needs the right motivation.

P.M. on Church leaders
It seems Prime Minister Tuilaepa can’t leave members of clergy alone.
During a radio programme last week, he had plenty to say about Church Ministers. For instance, he reminded them that Church Ministers were only taught on spiritual matters, not on Economics.

The spears flew towards the youth on the hill, whistling as they cut through the air. Grinning, Queen Medb’s general drew his sword, eager to take back to his Queen the head of this warrior whom they called the Hound of Ulster. He had no doubt his spears would find their mark.